Bowling pin setter



Sept. 7, 1954 G. A. MoNTooTH 2,683,485

BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed March 4, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet l www .mm f

SePt- 7, 1954 G. A. MoNTooTH 2,688,485

BOWLING PIN sETTER Filed March 4, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 7, 1954 G.A. MoN'rooTl-x- 2,688,485

BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed March 4, 1949 s sheets-sheet s mbe-Q 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4,v 1949 Sept. 7, 1954 G. A. MoNTooTH2,688,485

V BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed March 4. 1949 8 sheets-sheet 5 Il .IL

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Sept. 7, 1954 G. A. MoNTooTH 2,688,485

BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed March 4, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 7, 1954 G.A. MoNTooTH BOWLING PIN sETTER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 4, 1949Sept. 7, 1954 Filed March 4. 1949 G. A. MONTOOTH BOWLING PIN sETTER 8She ets-Sheet 8 atented Sept. 7, 1.954

George A; Montootli, Lon

g Beach, Calif., assignor' to The Brunswick-Balk@Collender Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware'v Application March 4, 1949,serial No. 79,691

11"y Claims. l

The invention relates to a pinsetter that is power actuated andsemi-automatic" in operation.

It is the general object of the' invention to provide a new and improvedsemi-automatic pinsetter which is motor driven and, when started by anoperator, continues' through a pin setting cycle'of operation andy stopswith the pin deck in its raised or out of the way position withoutfurther attention by the operator.

Other objects of the invention are to provide ,a semi-automatic bowlingpinse'tter which may be readily installed above the pin' deckl of abowling' alley; which is smooth and" quiet in operation; which requiresa relatively small amount of powerv for its' actuation; which enibodiesa gear box having a crank on its' output shaft connected to actuate thepinsetter deck and arranged' to rotate the' crank' through a" singlerevolution when once started by an operator; which hasa pinsetter deckstructure mounted for vertical movement from an upper pin receivingposition to a lower pin setting position and return'and iscounterlbalanced. toavoid peak loads on the driving motor; whichembodies: safety'release mechanism which functions to'in'- terrupt thedrive to the deck structure' in the event the deck encountersv anobstruction; which embodies a means for locking up thesafety re` leasemechanism as-the deck reaches its lower' Further' objects and advantageswill becomev readily apparent from the following detaileddescriptiontaken in connection with the accom-v panying drawings, in' which:

Fig.' 1 is a rear'elevational view of a' preferred form of the invention(partly in section) in'- stalled on theV kickbacks of a bowling alleyand above the Din Spots thereof, taken along the line Ie-l of Fig. 2;

Fig'. 2 is a side elevational View thereof along the' lille 2 2 Of Fig'.l;

2 Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of thevv pins'ett'erdeckstructure showing the pin receiving and setting parts adjacent one pinopening, andA in pin receiving position.

Fig. 4' is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken alo'ngthelines 4 6 of Figs. 1 and 3',

showing the parts in pin receiving position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts in pinsetting position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear eleva# tional View"(partlyin'section along line -B of Fig. 7) of the drive mechanism andlooking in the saine directionas in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the drive mechanism,partly in section, along the line l-'I of Fig. 6

Fig. 8y is an enlargedy fragmentary View (along line' 8 8 of'Fig'. 9)similar to Fig. 6 showing the drive mechanism in the positions' assumedas the pinsetter deck structureV reaches its lower or pin settingposition;

Fig; 8a is a fragmentary view on astill larger scale of the latchmechanism in the position shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevational View along line 9 9' of Fig. 8 lookingat the righthand end of Fig. '7;I

Fig. 9ais a section along line ila-9a of Fig. 8a;

Fig. 10 isa vertical section through the gear box mechanism and' alongthe line lil-itl' of Fig. 11;

Fig. l1 is a vertical section along the line i l-I l of Fig. l0; v

Fig. l2 is a vertical section along the line lZ-EZ of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 isa vertical section along the line l3-l 3 of Fig. 10 and Fig.11.

Fig. 14 is afragmentary plan view of they front end of the deckstructure along line Illl of Fig. 2.

While' I have illustrated inthe drawings and shall herein describe indetail a preferred em'-V bodiment of' the' invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the particular form andarrangement shown. The scopeof thei invention will be'pointed out in theclaims.

As shown in the drawingajpartioularly Figs. l and 2, a' bowling' alleybed 20 is located between gutters`2l and 22 and kickbacks 23 and 24.Upstanding from the kickbacks is a supporting structure comprisingvertical tubular members 25 and 2 6, horizontal topV members 2l and' 28, and inclined braces 29 and 30'. A pair 'of parallel horizontaltubular members 3l and 32 extend between the horizontal members 21 and28 and are secured thereto by means of U-clamps 33. Somewhat centrallyof the members 3| and 32 is a casting 34 which is provided with boresthrough which the members 3| and 32 extend. This casting, shown moreclearly in Figs. 6 to 9, has a bottom wall 35 and a plurality of lugs 36upstanding therefrom and provided with horizontal bores 31 in whichpivot pins 38 are secured. Bell crank levers 39 and 40 are rotatablymounted on the pivot pins 38 and have segmental gear portions 4| and 42,respectively, which mesh and thereby compel the bell crank levers 39 and40 to operate simultaneously. The outer ends of the bell crank members39 and 40 as shown in Fig. 1 are connected to the deck structure(indicated generally at 45) by vertically extending rod devices 43 and44 which serve to hang the deck structure from pins 39 and 40 on thebell crank levers and are slotted at their upper ends at 43 and 44.Relatively short arms 46 and 41 on the bell cranks 39 and 40 areconnected to compression type coil springs 49 and 49 by means of links56 and rods so that the coiled springs operate in a direction to raisethe bell crank levers 39 and 40 and thereby raise the deck structure 45and to counterbalance it. The links 50 are pivoted at one end thereof tothe rods 5| by pins 5|a, and at their other ends are slotted at 52 toreceive a pin 53 carried on arm 46 or 41.

The drive mechanism for the pinsetter is carried on a framework adaptedto be supported on the parallel tubular members 3| and 32. Thisframework comprises two tubular members designated generally at 55 and56 which are bent or pre-formed as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 8 so asrespectively to have upper horizontal central portions 51 and 58 andinclined portions extending downwardly therefrom which have their endsfiattened and secured to the respective horizontal tubular members 3|and 32 by means of U-clamps 59. Transversely extending brackets 69 and6| have portions at their lower ends secured to the members 3| and 32 byU-clamps 62 and at their upper ends have recesses receiving the members55 and 56 and clamps 63 for securing the members 55 and 56 therein. Aplate 64 has recessed lugs 65 and 66 at its upper end fitting againstportion 58 of the frame member 56, and has lugs 61 and 68 at its lowerend tting against the brackets 60 and 6|, as shown best in Figs. 6 and8, the lugs 61 and 68 being suitably bolted or welded to the brackets.

The plate 64 forms a support for a gear box housed in a casing 10, thecasing being suitably bolted to the plate 64. This gear box, which willbe hereinafter more fully described in connection with Figs. to 13, hasan input shaft 1| carrying a pulley 12 which is driven from an electricmotor 13 by means of a pulley 14 on the motor shaft, and a connectingbelt 15. An output shaft 16 carries a crank 11 which is secured to theshaft 16 by means of a key 18 and a clamping bolt 19. Crank 11 isnormally in operative in an upright position as shown in Figs. l, 6 and7 and is arranged, when driven, to rotate through a single revolution tolower and raise the pinsetter deck structure 45.

As shown in the drawings, and particularly Figs. '1, 9 and 9a, the freeend of the crank 11 carries a pin 80 to which the lower end of aconnecting rod is rotatably secured. The connecting rod comprises tworelatively movable parts, one a bearing member 82 through which the pin89 projects and which has a pair of parallel guide rods 83 securedthereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The other part is in theform'of a member 84 which has upper and lower crosspieces 85 and 86slidably engaging the guide rods 83 and at its upper end carries a pivotpin 81 which extends horizontally therefrom to receive the upper ends oflinks 88 and 89, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to thebell crank levers 39 and 40 respectively by pins 90 and 9|. The member84 is normally secured to the bearing member 82 by means of a latchdevice consisting of a relatively thin spring latch member 92 secured tothe member 84 by bolts 93, the member 92 having an aperture 94 throughits lower end to receive a latch dog xed to the bearing member 82. Thelatch dog 95 is beveled at 95 to facilitate release of the latch member.A relatively light coiled spring 96 surrounds the shank of a bolt 91 andnormally urges the latch member 92 into a position to engage the dog 95.The engaging end of the dog 95 is so beveled that in cooperation withthe light spring 96 it serves to release the latch member 92 inthe eventthe pinsetter deck structure 45 meets an obstruction during its downwardmovement. If the latch device is released, the crank 11 continues itsmovement, the guide rods 83 thus sliding downwardly through the endportions of the member 84 and leaving the links 38 and 89 in thepositions in which they were at the time the deck encountered theobstruction. The latch device re-engages during the following upwardmovement of the member B4, after which the deck structure is raised toits normal inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the driveassumes the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

During the operation of the pinsetter a peak load on the motor isgenerally encountered While the pins are being up-ended from ahorizontal to a vertical position and properly set on the alley 20. Thisoccurs as the deck structure 45 reaches the bottom of its stroke. Inorder for a safety release device, such as that including the latchmember 92, to function promptly and with certainty in the eventobstructions are encountered, it is desirable to have the latch memberrelease at less than the peak load. Since there is little likelihood ofencountering any damaging obstruction after the deck structure reachesthe lowered position wherein members |00 thereon engage the alley bed(which is just prior to the peak load encountered in setting the pins),the invention, in the form illustrated, embodies means for locking upthe latch device during the actual pin setting (peak load) operation.This means consists of a roller I0| (Figs. 6 to 9a) which is carried ona member |62 secured to a part |02a on the free end of the crankpin 86,and an extension |03 on the latch member 92. As the crank 11 rotatesfrom the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to that shown in Figs. 8 to 9a,the roller |9| engages the extension |03 and rolls over it. During thetime the roller |9| rolls over the extension |93 the latch member 92 islocked in latched position, so that it cannot release. AS an additionalsafety factor the member |02 is preferably spring loaded as by means ofa coiled spring |94 positioned between a nut |95 and member |02 andsurrounding a bolt |96, upon which the nut |05 is mounted, extendingfrom the part ||J2a1 the member |92 being pivotally supported on thepart |6211 by means of a crosspin |91.

The deck structure 45 is generally of the type disclosed in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1,626,446 to J. W. Bishop, dated April 26,1921.

It comprises an upper horizontal frame III) and a lower frame ||Isecured together in rigid :but vertically spaced relation by a pluralityof bolts |;|.2. These frames have suitable openings therethrough, ten innumber, located at the proper positions for the ten pins which are to beset on the alley bed. An intermediate frame ||;3 is carried on the lowerends of the rods 43 and tt so that when the pinsetter deck structure isin Aits raised position, the upper and lower frames hang from theintermediate frame IIS. The intermediate frame also has openings locatedin accordance with the ten pin positions, and at each such openingcarries a member ||13 which surrounds the pin opening and has anupstanding portion ||.5 against which the bottom of the pin engages whenthe pin lies horizontally `on the :top frame. A lip |6 on the portion II5 overlies the adjacent bottom end of the pin when it is positioned asin Fig. 4. Front and rear locating shoes and IIS are carried .on theintermediate `frame H3 on pivot pins ||9 and |2. The rear surfaces |2|and |22, respectively, of said shoes engage against cam edges |23 and|2l on the bottom frame I I so that as the intermediate frame movesdownwardly relatively to the bottom frame, the shoes for each pin aremoved towards each other to receive and set a pin. As the deck structuremoves downwardly,

bumper posts |50 which extend below the bot- A tom frame, engage thealley bed 2|] and the top and bottom frames of the deck structure arearrested in their movement. Up to this time the pins .have remained intheir substantially horizontal positions, but as the intermediate framecontinues to move downwardly, the lips |||i engage the bottom ends ofthe pins and pull them into a more upright position, from which theydrop down into the space between the shoes I and IIB, the shoes in themeantime having been moved together to their pin setting positions. Fora full disclosure of the apparatus and operation above described,together with claims to certain novel features thereof, reference is hadto the co-pending application of Robert I. Anderson filed April 14, 1949as Serial No. 87,542. This application has matured into U. S. Letters'Patent N0. 2,634,978, granted April 14, 1953. The intermediate framemoves downwardly until the crank '|'I of the drive mechanism passesthrough its lowermostposition, at which time the pins are accurately seton the alley. As the crank 'Il continues in its rotation, theintermediate frame is again released relatively to the top and bottomframes, during which movement the shoes I and I I8 spread apart, due totheir own weight, to positions wherein they pass the standing pinswithout disturbing them. After the intermediate frame engages the topframe the entire deck structure rises to the position shown in Figs. 1and 2 as the crank 'Il returns to its inoperative position.

The drive mechanism for the deck structure includes the gear boxreferred to hereinbefore as having a casing lil. Its construction willnow be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10 to 13.

As illustrated herein the input shaft 1| is rotatably supported inanti-friction bearings and |3l. Loosely supported on the shaft by meansof bushings |32 and |33 is a worm |34. This `worm meshes with a wormwheel ,-I 35 which is keyed to the output shaft 'I6 which is rotatablysupported in the casing by anti-frictionbearings |36 and .|3'I on anaxistransverse to :thatof ,the

shaft The .outer end of the shaft 'i6 carries the crank which isperiodically given a single rotation by engagement of clutch mechanismwhich `comprises a .coiled clutch spring |33, a portion of whichcircumscribes a cylindrical clutch face |39 on anextension Mii on the:worin |34 and the remainder of which circumscribes a cylindrical clutchface lill `on -an annular lbushing |42 which is secured to the shaft 7|as by a key |43. Externally the spring is surrounded in part :by annularmember |54 fixed in a Vbore |45 in the casing lll (by akey |4441 (Fig.12)) and in part by a tubular member Ilfli fixed to and rotatable withthe worm. One end |41 ofthe clutch spring |33 is bent radially inwardand then turned at right angles to the coil and anchored in a slot |48cut inthe adjacent lportion of the worm (Figs. l0, l1 and 13). Theclutch spring |38 is normally coiled so as to wrap around and engage theclutch surfaces |39 and |l|| of the worm portion .Iill and the bushing|42 respectively, and thereby form a clutch between said parts whichcauses the worm to rotate with the shaft l. It is `possible to releasethe clutch by stopping rotation of the opposite end |50 of the clutchspring (Figs. l2 and 13), thus causing the spring to unwind from drivingcontact with the parts Ill@ and |42. A braking action for the worm isobtained by the expansion of the spring into engagement with theinterior of the parts |44 and |45, due to the inertia of the worm andparts driven thereby.

Generally, it is desirable to have the clutch normally disengaged sothat the motor 'F3 mair remain in operation. To accomplish this, acontrol arm |-5| is secured to a horizontally extending control shaft|52 which is rotatably journalled in the end walls of the casing lil inbores |53 and |54. The arm |5| has an upwardly extending portion |55which is normally positioned in the path of the end |552 of the clutchspring to unwrap it from the parts lilo and |42. The control shaft |52carries a second arm |55 and a coiled spring |51 is connectedintermediate the free end of the arm |56 and an adjustable screw device|58 supported in the casing wall to maintain the arm |5| in the positionshown in Figs. l1 and 12.

The arm |56 has a projecting portion I 53 (Figs. land 11) which isengageable by a cam it@ secured to the worm wheel |35. As shown best in`Fig. 1 3, this cam is generally circular with the exception of a notchat Iil into which the projection |55 extends when the portion |55 of thearm |'5I engages the clutch spring end |55 to disengage the clutch.

As the control shaft |52 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction asillustrated in Figs. 7, 9 and 1l, as by pulling on a cord |62 connectedto an arm |63 on the outer end of the control shaft, and with the shaft1| rotatingin a counterclockwise direction, the portion |55 of the arm|5| is momentarily withdrawn from its position in front of the end |50of the clutch spring. Due toits normal tendency to contract, the clutchspring then engages the parts illl and I d2' and drives the worm |341with the shaft 1|. As soon as the worm rotates sufciently to Arotate thecam in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 13, sufficiently to move`the circular periphery of the cam under the projection |59 of arm |55,the cam |60 serves to maintain the arm portion |55 out of engagementwith the end |59 of the clutch spring. The clutch :then remains engagediuntil the crankshaft has completed one revolution whereupon theprojection |59 reenters the notch IBI in the cam |60 and permits thespring |51 to rotate the control shaft |52 in a clockwise direction asshown in Figs. 11 and 12, to position the arm portion |55 in the path ofthe rotating end |50 of the clutch spring. The end |50 of the arm |38 istherefore stopped the next time it comes around and the clutch spring isreleased to disengage the clutch and apply the brake. This subjectmatter is disclosed and claimed in my divisional application filedFebruary 10, 1950 as Serial No. 143,469. This application has maturedinto U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,652,134, granted September 15, 1933.

If, during the lrst half of the revolution of the crank 11 during whichthe deck structure 45 is being lowered to the pin setting position, thedeck structure encounters an obstacle, the latch member 92 releasessubstantially instantaneously against the pressure of the relativelylight spring 96. In such case, the crank continues its rotation, thedeck structure remaining in the partly lowered position until the crankhas moved suiciently through the second half of its stroke whereupon thelatch member 92 re-engages the dog 95 and the deck structure is returnedto its loading position. In the event no obstruction is encountered, thedeck structure descends until the members engage the alley bed, afterwhich the intermediate frame ||3 of the deck structure continues itsdownward movement to up-end the pins and to move the shoes ||1, ||8together to locate the pins on the alley bed. After the pins are set,the intermediate frame ||3 moves upwardly ahead of the top and bottomframes ||0 and thus permitting the shoes to separate and pass by thepins without touching them during the return upward movement of the deckstructure.

While the deck structure frames ||0 and are resting upon the alley bed,the means for locking the latch device is effective, the roller 0| thenrolling over the lower end |03 of the latch member 92 as shown in Fig,9a. If an obstruction to operation of the deck structure is encounteredwhile the roller |0| rolls over the extension |03 on the latch member,the spring |04 may yield to permit the latch member to release the dog95.

The slots 43 and 44 in the upper ends of the rod devices 43 and 44 whichserve to hang the deck structure on the bell crank levers (Fig. 1) servea double purpose. Generally, the arms 30 and 40 and the actuatingmechanism therefor are so designed and proportioned that after themembers |00 on the deck structure engage the alley bed, the pins 39 and40' carried on the bell crank levers 39 and 40 descend in the slots 43'and 44', a pre-selected distance, as for example, one-third the lengthof the slots. While the pins 39 and 40' are descending in said slots,the deck structure dwells after the intermediate frame ||3 has moveddownwardly relatively `to the frames ||0 and to set pins. This dwell isuseful to permit the pins to reach a stable condition on the alley bedin the event they are not immediately placed squarely thereon by theupending and locating operations. Although with brand new pins havingflat bottoms the pins generally assume stable condition immediately uponsetting, when the machine is used with older pins having somewhatrounded bottoms a slight delay or dwell of the intermediate frame in itspin setting position is desirable. The other purpose of the lost motionconnections provided by the pins 39', 40', and slots 43', 44',respectively, is to pro-4 vide additional safety in the event anobstruction is encountered by the deck structure when the latch member92 is locked to the dog 95. If the deck structure is in its loweredposition and an obstruction prevents the intermediate deck ||3 fromdescending relatively to the lower deck |l|, the pins 39', 40 candescend in the slots.

'I'he coil springs 48 and 49 are normally adjusted so that they do notcompletely counterbalance the deck structure with the result that thedeck structure hangs on the pins 39. and 40 and during the descent ofthe bell crank arms 39, 40, the weight of the deck structure keeps thepins at the upper ends of the slots 43', 44', respectively. This isespecially true when the deck structure is loaded with a set of pins.When the deck structure, during a pin setting operation, reaches thealley bed, the movement of the intermediate frame ||3 downwardlyrelatively to the bottom frame I|| produces the peak load on the motoras more power is needed to overcome springs 48 and 49 since the deckstructure is resting on the alley bed, this occurring while the pins arebeing up-ended and located on the alley bed. A pair of springs isprovided with their lower ends |8| anchored to the bottom frame by eyebolts |82 and their upper ends anchored to cap members |83 secured totubes |84 extending upwardly from the intermediate frame ||3 as shownbest in Fig. 2. These spring devices are located at opposite sides ofthe deck structure as indicated in Fig. 1 and are tensioned to bias orpull the intermediate frame |3 downwardly with respect to the lowerframe I. As the springs are not positioned exactly opposite the centerof gravity of the lower frame and the parts connected thereto (as viewedin Fig. 2, the springs |80 are slightly to the right of the center ofgravity of the frames |0, l), a pair of small coil springs |85 ispreferably connected between the upper frame ||0 and the intermediateframe ||3 as shown best in Figs. 2 and 14 to effect a balance betweenthe frames.

In the form illustrated, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 14, the deckstructure is provided with a guard to ward off bowling balls which reachthe pin setter location while the deck structure is in its loweredposition. This guard consists of a somewhat U-shaped member |8|-.-` 0fplywood or other suitable material extending along the front of andalong the sides of the deck structure and suitably secured theretoadjacent its rear ends. The front end of the member |86 is supported onthe deck structure by means of a somewhat circular spring |81 fastenedto the member |86 by a clip |88. The rear ends of the spring |81 areformed with loops which surround pins |89 carried on brackets |90 on theupper frame ||0. The spring |81 is adapted to yield in all directionsfrom which a ball may strike the deck structure, the member |36 duringany such yielding of the spring being sufficiently flexible to bend orbulge as may be required. This subject matter is disclosed and claimedin my co-pending application filed May 3l, 1950 as Serial No. 165,130.

In the operation of the pin setter the force exerted by the springs 48and 49 is considerable due to the short arms 46 and 41 to which they areconnected and the long arms 30 and 40 which support the deck structure.In order to avoid excessive wear between the arms 46 and 41 and theirconnecting links 50, the links are provided with rectangular slots 52 asshown in Figs.` 1, 6

acsaess 9 and 8, and` the. pins; 53 are carriedv non-rotatably on thearms 46' and 41. During the movement o'f the arms from the positionshown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 8, the pins 53 roll on theadjacent surfaces 52 of the slots, from one end of the slot to the otherend without friction, thereby producing a connection having long life.The links B are made up of spaced members which straddle the arms Il@and 4l' as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, the ends of the pins projectingforwardly and rearwardly from the arms to engage both parts of the link.

I claim:

l. In a bowling pinsetter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure thereforincluding means for guiding the deck structure for vertical lowering andreturn movements, and means for counterbalancing said deck structureincluding a pair of pivotally supported arms having their free endsconnectedA to said deck structure by links and springs operativelyconnected to theV arms for urging their free ends upwardly, incombination, a rotatably mounted crank, means for driving said crankincluding a motor and a clutch, means for connecting said crank to saidarms comprising a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to a pinon said crank, a pair of links connecting the other end of said rod tosaid arms, said connecting rod comprising a pair of relatively movableparts, a latch device normally connecting said parts together tomaintain a driving connection to the deck structure and yieldable tointerrupt the driving connection in the event the pinsetter deck meetsan obstruction, said latch device automatically re-engaging during theremainder of the revolution of the crank.

2. In a bowling pinsetter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a frame having means for guidingthe deck structure for vertical up and down movements, and means formovably supporting said deck structure on said frame including a pair ofpivoted arms having their` outer ends connected to the deck structure byrods and springs operatively connected to said arms for urging theirouter ends upwardly to substantially counterbalance the Weight of saiddeck structure, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft, means fordriving said shaft, means for lowering and raising said deck structureincluding a motion transmitting device on said shaft and a con-- nectingmember operated thereby and comprising a pair of relatively movableparts, a pair of links connecting one of said parts to said arms, alatch device normally connecting said parts together and having a memberyieldable to interrupt the driving connection in the event the pin--setter deck structure meets an obstruction, and a lockup for said latchdevice operable as the deck structure moves through its setting positiontoprevent release of the latch device, said lookup including a rollercarried on the motion transmitting device in a position to roll over thelatch device member and prevent i't from unlatching.

3. In a bowling pinsetter having av deck'structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a frame having means for guidingthe deck structure for vertical up and down movements, and means formovably supporting said deck structure on said fra-me including a pairof p'ivotedl arms having their outer ends connectedtothe deck structureby rods and springs operatively connected toi Said arms for urging theirouter ends upwardly to substantially counterbalance the weight of saidAdeck structure, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft, means fordriving said shaft, means for lowering and raising said deck structureincluding a and slidably through boresV in the other part, ar

device normally connecting said parts together and yieldabl'e to permitthem to separate to interrupt the driving connection in the event thepinsetter deck structurel meets an obstruction, and means operable asthe deck structure moves through its setting position to preventmovement between the parts of the motion transmitting device.

4. In combinaion with a bowling pinsetter having a deck structureadapted to receive bowling pins when in a raised position and to setthem when in a lowered position, a supporting structure having means forguiding the deck structure vertically fromy its raised to its loweredposition and return during a setting operation and counterbalancingmeans for said deck structure including a pair of bell cranks having theends of their adjacent arms intergeared to cause equal and oppositemovement of the bell cranks and their other arms upwardly and outwardlydiverging with the ends thereof connected to said deck structure by apair of rods, said supporting structure including a pair of parallelhorizontally extending tubular members, a power drive unit comprising aframe having additional preformed tubular members adapted to be clampedto said parallel tubular members and extending upwardly therefrom', agear box supported on said framev and having input and output shafts,`said output shaft being positioned above the intergeared ends of saidbell cranks, a motor supported on said frame and connected to drive saidinput shaft, a crank on said output shaft, said gear box including aclutch device operable when engaged to rotate said crank,` meansoperable upon completion of a single rotation of the crank to disengagethe clutch device,` and means for connecting said crank to said otherarms to lower andv raise the d'eck during a single revolution of thecrank including a connecting rod having one end connected to said crankand the other end positioned above and in line with said output shaftand intergeared ends of the bell cranks, and a `pair 0f downwardlydiverging links having their upper ends pivotally connected together andtoV the other end of said connecting rod and their other ends connectedto said other arms of the bell cranks.

5. A bowling pinsetter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure thereforincluding means for guiding the deck structure for vertical lowering andreturn movements, a pair of pivotally supported arms on said supportingstructure geared together at their pivots and having their free endsextending divergently, a pair of links connected at their lower ends tosaid deck structure and at their upper ends having slots receiving pinson said arms tov form lost motion connections therebetween and meansforactuating said arms to lower and raise the' deck structure during a pinsetting operation `comprising a rotatably mounted crank, means 11", fordriving said crank and means connecting said crank to said arms.

6. In a bowling pin setter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure including apair of horizontally spaced tubular members extending laterally of andabove the alley bed, mechanism on said members for guiding the deckstructure for vertical up and down movements, and means forcounter-balancing said deck structure including a pair of intergearedbell cranks having their outer ends connected to said deck structure bya pair of rods, in combination, a detachable drive mechanism including apower unit for controlling the movement of said deck structurecomprising, a pair of upwardly extending horizontally spaced benttubular arms attached at their ends to said tubular members adjacenttheir ends, a pair of reinforcing brackets extending substantiallyvertically between said tubular members and said tubular arms, means forattaching said brackets to said members and arms, a mounting plate forsaid power unit extending between the brackets in a vertical planepassing through one of said tubular arms and secured to said bracketsand in engagement with said one tubular arm, means for operativelyconnecting said power unit to said deck structure including a crankdriven by said power unit, a connecting rod pivotally connected at oneend to said crank, a pair of links connecting the other end of saidrodto said bell cranks, said connecting rod comprising a pair ofrelatively movable parts, a pair of parallel guide rods extendingsubstantially radially from one of said parts and slidable through boresin the other part, a flexible spring normally connecting said partstogether and yieldable to interrupt the driving connection in the eventthe pin setter deck structure meets an obstruction, and a lockup forsaid spring operable when the deck structure moves through its settingposition to prevent yielding thereof, said lockup including a rollercarried on the crank in a position to roll over the spring and preventit from yielding.

7. In a bowling pin setter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure including apair of horizontally spaced tubular members extending laterally of thealley bed, means on said members for guiding the deck structure forvertical up and down movements, and means for counterbalancing said deckstructure including a pair of pivotally supported arms having theirouter ends connected to said deck structure by a pair of rods, said armsextending in diverging directions, in combination, a detachable drivemechanism including a power unit for controlling the movement of saiddeck structure comprising, a pair of upwardly extending horizontallyspaced bent tubular arms attached at their ends to said tubular membersadjacent their ends, a pair of reinforcing brackets extending verticallybetween and in planes normal to the length of said tubular members andsaid tubular arms and having means for attachment thereto, a verticallydisposed mounting plate for said power unit extending between thebrackets and in engagement with one of said tubular arms and secured tosaid brackets, means for operatively connecting said power unit to saiddeck structure including a crank driven by said power unit, a connectingrod pivotally connected at one end to said crank, a pair of linksconnecting the other end of said rod to said diverging arms,

said connecting rod comprising a pair of relatively movable parts, alatch device normally connecting said parts together and having a memberyieldable to Vinterrupt the driving connection in the event the pinsetter deck structure meets an obstruction, and a lockup for said latchdevice operable when the deck structure moves through its settingposition to prevent release of the latch device, said lockup including aroller carried on the crank in a position to roll over the latch devicemember and prevent it from yielding and unlatching.

8. In a bowling pin setter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure including apair of tubular members extending laterally of the alley bed, means onsaid members for guiding the deck structure for vertical up and downmovements, and means for counterbalancing said deck structure includinga pair of pivotally supported arms having their outer ends connected tosaid deck structure by a pair of rods, in combination, a detachabledrive mechanism including a power unit operatively connected to saiddeck structure comprising, a pair of upwardly extending bent tubulararms attached at their ends to said tubular members adjacent their ends,a pair of brackets extending between said tubular members and saidtubular arms and normal to the length of said members and arms, meansfor attaching said brackets to said member and arms, and a mountingplate for said power unit extending between and secured to said bracketsand lying in a vertical plane including one of said tubular arms, saidpower unit including a one-revolution clutch and a gear reduction unitfor driving an output crank, and means for operatively connecting saidcrank to said deck structure including a connecting rod, said connectingrod comprising two relatively movable parts, a latch device normallyconnecting said parts together and having a member yieldable tointerrupt the driving connection in the event the pinsetter deckstructure meets an obstruction, and a lockup for said latch device toprevent release of the latch device when the deck structure movesthrough its setting position.

9. In a bowling pin setter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure including apair of horizontally spaced tubular members extending laterally of thealley bed, means on said members for guiding the deck structure forvertical up and down movements, and means for counterbalancing said deckstructure including a pair of pivotally supported arms having theirouter ends connected to said deck structure by a pair of rods, anattachment comprising, a detachable drive mechanism including a powerunit for controlling the movement of said deck structure, a pair ofhorizontally spaced upwardly extending bent tubular arms attached attheir ends to said tubular members adjacent their ends, a pair ofvertically disposed brackets extending between said tubular members andsaid tubular arms and having means for attachment thereto, and amounting plate for said power unit extending between the brackets in avertical plane including one of said tubular arms and secured to saidbrackets and in engagement with said one tubular arm.

10. In a bowling pin setter having a deck structure provided with pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure including apair of horizontally spaced tubular members extending laterally of thealley bed, means on said members for guiding the deck structure forvertical up and down movements, and means for counterbalancing said deckstructure including a pair of pivotally supported arms having theirouter ends connected to said deck structure by a pair of rods, anattachment comprising, a detachable drive mechanism including a powerunit for controlling the movement of said deck structure having a crankand a connecting rod extending upwardly therefrom, a pair ofhorizontally spaced upwardly extending bent tubular arms attached attheir ends to said tubular members adjacent their ends, a pair ofvertically disposed brackets extending between said tubular members andsaid tubular arms and having means for attachment thereto, a mountingplate for said power unit extending between the brackets in a verticalplane including one of said tubular arms and secured to said bracketsand in engagement with said one tubular arm and a pair of downwardlydiverging connecting arms having their upper ends pivotally connectedtogether and to the upper end of the connecting rod and their lower endsdetachably connected to said pivotally supported arms.

11. In a bowling pinsetter having a deck structure provided with a pinreceiving and setting means thereon, a supporting structure thereforincluding means for guiding the deck structure for vertical lowering andreturn movements, and a pair of pivotally supported arms geared togetherat their pivots and having their free ends extending divergently andconnected to said deck structure by links, in combination, a rotatablymounted crank positioned above the pivots for the arms, means fordriving said crank, and means for connecting said crank to said armscomprising a vertically extending connecting rod having its lower endpivotally connected to a pin on said crank and a pair of downwardlydiverging links connecting the upper end of said rod to said arms, saidupper end of the connecting rod being in line with said crank and thepivots for said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,294,959 Seymour Feb. 18, 1919 1,584,030 Gray May 11, 19261,615,064 Bishop Jan. 18, 1927 2,015,428 Hedenskoog Sept. 24, 19352,229,852 Kaufman Jan. 28, 1941 2,250,503 Rundell July 29, 19412,284,208 Hedenskoog May 26, 1942 2,307,839 Kaufman Jan. 12, 19432,450,249 Murphy Sept. 28, 1948 2,475,432 Marihart July 5, 19492,530,385 Frye Nov. 21, 1950

